Living in Prague: The Good and The Bad
It is undeniable that living in the capital of the Czech Republic offers plenty of opportunities: from immersion into an incredible historical and cultural heritage to the breadth of its nightlife scene. But it’s not all sunshine and roses. As any other city in the world, Prague has its downsides, and in this article, we seek to provide a full overview that allows the reader to explore both the positive and negative aspects of living in the so-called “City of 100 Towers”.
The Good: Advantages of Living in Prague
1. SAFETY:
Prague is considered to be one of the safest European cities. There are no explicitly dangerous neighborhoods and very little, if any violent crime. Even though living in Prague involves minimal trouble when it comes to serious crimes, smaller offenses such as pickpocketing can happen in larger crowds and more ‘touristy’ areas including public transportation and overnight trains.
2. GREAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM:
As mentioned in one of our previous articles (Prague: second in the world for public transport ) Prague’s public transportation system is ranked as the 2nd in the world. The combination of trams, buses, and metro services creates an efficient system that makes it easy, and fast to reach any part of the city. Furthermore, public transportation is very reliable and fairly inexpensive which makes the experience even more enjoyable.
3. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM:
The whole Czech Republic has a high-quality, affordable healthcare system, which is completely free for EU citizens and permanent residents of the country. The standard of medical treatment, together with the good infrastructure of both public and private hospitals make Czech healthcare one of the best in the European Union.
4. WORK-LIFE BALANCE:
Unlike many other European capitals in which there is an overwhelming presence of the so-called ‘hustle culture’ the working life in Prague is very well balanced. The vast majority (73%) of its citizens report being satisfied with their working hours, which allow them to still have time for their personal hobbies, and not make work the main purpose of their life.
5. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL LIFE:
With a wide variety of historic monuments, parks, bars, museums, and outdoor activities many would argue that it is impossible to be bored in Prague! The city offers a rich variety of social events which often include drinking beer in one of the numerous local pubs or simply spending time in nature doing some of the most common outdoor activities – football, hockey, gardening…
The Bad: Downsides of Living in Prague
1. WAGES GROWING SLOWER THAN INFLATION (increase in the cost of living)::
The insufficient wage growth compared to high inflation has resulted in an overall decrease in the real wage levels in the entire Czech Republic. Over the course of the year 2022, real wages have declined by 7.5% resulting in an overall decrease in the purchasing power of its residents. Additionally, due to the current and expected trends in commodity prices, and the absence of a skilled workforce it is clear that currently, many employers are unable to give employees wage increases that would cover for the rising inflation and lead to a decrease in the cost of living in Prague.
2. TEDIOUS BUREAUCRACY AND ADMINISTRATION:
According to many foreigners one of the main downsides of living in Prague, and Czech Republic in general, is the amount of paperwork one must face when living here. Many report that getting any document approved and signed is an ‘uphill battle’ which EU citizens are not spared of.
3. LANGUAGE BARRIER:
According to a 2021 study by Education First, Czechs are among the least likely in the whole of Europe to know a foreign language. Having in mind that the vast majority of non-natives report that learning the local language is extremely difficult this can represent a potential issue in the job market, as well as the overall integration in the culture.
In conclusion, even though Prague, like any other city, has its downsides we believe that the good outweighs the negative! The astonishing architecture, and rich historical heritage together with the well-organized transportation system and active lifestyle make the quality of life in Prague suitable for anyone who wishes to escape the fast pace of life in Western countries and enjoy the rich culture and infinite social opportunities this city has to offer.
Sources:
Expat voices: Readers share the good, bad, and ugly of living in Prague
Healthcare System Information for Expats in the Czech Republic
